Weekly review

Media conference held in Kigali The National Dialogue on Media Development opened on Thursday in Kigali, with various government officials urging regional media owners to invest in the Rwandan media industry, as one way of stimulating development in the growing sector. In his address, Senate President, Dr. Vincent Biruta urged the forum which comprised of various media investors and experts, to invest in the country’s media as it carries great opportunities. The two-day meeting focused on the challenges of the media in Rwanda, including professionalism. IMF to support regional monetary union The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to provide necessary support to the East African Community in its efforts to establish a regional monetary union. A statement from the East African Community says. John Wakeman-Linn, the IMF Senior Resident Representative in Tanzania, pledged IMF’s support while meeting the EAC Secretary General, Ambassador, Juma Mwapachu in Arusha.Welcoming the pledge, Mwapachu said they would draw lessons from West Africa and the European Union, where the IMF played a pivotal role in the merger of these regions’ economies and the formation of Monetary Unions. Advocates sworn-in The president of the High Court and Principal Judge at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Justice Johnston Busingye urged newly sworn-in lawyers to uphold their legal profession by demonstrating only the core competencies and values of their profession. He made the remarks on Thursday while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of 92 lawyers at Supreme Court premises. Currently there are 730 lawyers in the country recognized by the courts of law. 9-YBE classrooms get boost 250 inmates at Ruhengeri Central Prison, participating in the ongoing activities of the Prisons Week, are set to construct eight classrooms for the 9-Year Basic Education (9-YBE) in Susa cell, and 13 km road network leading to Mukungwa Hydro power plant in Musanze District. Speaking to The New Times, Gahima Rusa, the Director of Ruhengeri Central Prison, said the inmates have shown desire, and willingness to contribute to the national development. The National Prisons Service introduced the Prisons Week as way of rehabilitating inmates, fostering unity and reconciliation and contributing to national development. Co-operative donates to ex-servicemen A demobilized soldiers’ co-operative, KOPAINYA in Nyamasheke District, on Wednesday donated 90 heads of cattle to its members. The donation was handed over during celebrations of the cooperative’s achievements. The co-operative was started in 2004, by 35 demobilized soldiers. The district donated an exotic bull that will help the members to get hybrids and a computer for record keeping. 30 netted in Gasabo security swoop Police in Gasabo District mounted an operation arresting 30 people suspected to be behind criminal acts in several parts of the district. The crime the district has experienced, police said, is a result of use of drugs and consumption of illegal brew. The operation conducted in several parts of Remera Sector, a city suburb, also saw about 3,000 litres of illegal brew known as Mariture. The dealers were also arrested. All suspects are currently detained at Remera Police Station. Gov’t raises Rwf3.5b from sale of bond The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) has raised Rwf3.5 billion on behalf of government through the auctioning of a Treasury bond. The Bank said in a statement that it had issued a 5 year government bond due to be listed on the Rwanda Over-The-Counter (OTC) market today. The bond will expire on November 12, 2015 and is in line with the central bank’s framework of its quarterly issuance of government securities. The bond, which carries a coupon rate of 11 percent, was over subscribed by 201 percent or Rwf3.55 billion, which underlines the high investor appetite for government debt. The central bank said that the bids were open to commercial banks, non-banking enterprises and individual investors. Ends